Clematis is climbing the trellis Hydrangea is burgeoning blue One sunflower is towering over the others Could it be that there’s nothing to do? —Kate Jacobs, “Hope is a Weed” While I agree with those who don’t necessarily need music playing outside while they’re gardening or just sitting in the garden—especially when there is the [...]
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Thoughts about our garden. “We desire,” the Emporer dictated, “that in the garden there should be all kinds of plants.” Charlemagne the Gre. […]
Body: posted by Holly Scoggins Of course we want to buy locally-grown plants! There are a gazillion sound reasons to do so. In a paper that may be f. […]
While reading the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens, I stumbled upon a new (to me) trend in outdoor living: Outdoor Televisions! Phew! It’s. […]
by SusanOn a budget? (A nice way of saying "cheap" or "underemployed" or, in my case, both.) Then try bartering your gardening advice or labor for services you need. My adventures in bartering started with my friend Dan, who’s a professional computer-guy. In exchange for fixing my many tech...
Read more in: Grab BagI recently mailed out the first issue of Sustainable Gardening News, then parked it on the site right here. Already I’ve received some great suggestions about it but I’m thinking: Why not tap into the wealth of knowledge (and opinions) right here on the Rant? I’ve been researching newsletters...
Read more in: Grab Bagby Susan You know how we’re always going on about community associations that mandate turfgrass, well watered and mowed? Well, it’s no surprise that the overwhelming majority of them also regulate or ban clotheslines, despite the environmental benefits of using them, rather than energy-hog clothes dryers. According to this...
Read more in: Grab BagIn an article called (yes) “Buffalo Oasis,” published on August 26, the New York Times said the following: The weather has been inhospitable in parts of the nation this summer. In July, the interior West sizzled under a spell of extreme heat, with Montana, Idaho and Wyoming recording their...
Read more in: Grab BagWe usually read about Jeff Goodell as the shadowy figure in Michele’s garden, even as a foil to her obsession, but today’s Washington Post reminds us of what he’s up to when he’s not playing Whiffle Ball. Thanks, Jeff, for explaining the whole COAL thing so clearly. Here’s Jeff’s...
Read more in: Grab BagOkay, so let’s all Eat Local! But just as consumers here and in Europe are gearing up to restrict their buying to local sources, New Zealanders are asserting that their lamb is produced so much more efficiently than European lamb, its carbon footprint is smaller even after shipping. Ditto...
Read more in: Grab BagThis front-page Washington Post story, subtitled "Many Adults Worry Nature is Disappearing From Children’s Lives," expands on our recent rantings about people not spending time outdoors. I found it heart-breaking – like the finding that children ages 8 to 18 average 6.5 hours DAILY indoors using their electronics devices. ...
Read more in: Grab BagNew York Times nature writer and blogger Richard Conniff recently took note of an interesting milestone – the finding by the U.N. that as of May 23 of this year, the world’s population is no longer predominantly rural but urban – and went on to list some pretty compelling...
Read more in: Grab BagThis past Saturday my little town had a really fun party with lots of pizza and schmoozing, the evening culminating in the presentation of the coveted Azalea Awards. As an award show it was a total hoot. The funky local band accompanied winners on their journey through the auditorium...
Read more in: Grab BagWell, duh on me. This week I’ve been researching Lilium longflorum (Easter lily) to find out what, if anything, might be happening to cause the loss of fragrance I’d noticed in the plants so ubiquitous now in supermarkets. (I wonder what they do with the leftovers on Easter Monday?)...
Read more in: Grab BagIt seemed that everywhere I looked there were press releases promoting the kick-off event for an organic lawn organization - on the Mall in Washington! You know, just like the Million Man March and countless other events that made history. Trouble is, the Mall’s a pretty big place, so...
Read more in: Grab BagMUSIC WHILE BLOGGINGNow sitting at the computer is something else again. Yes, I could just stick a CD in my E drive and listen, if I owned any CDs I actually want to listen to. Since I don’t, I’ve been listening to XM Radio via the Internet – until...
Read more in: Grab BagAmerica’s been in bloom since 2001. Buffalo’s been in bloom since 1995. So has Canada. Britain’s been in bloom since 1963, though perhaps not continuously. From individual cities to regions to entire countries, various "in bloom" programs, sometimes connected to a larger program, sometimes not, employ contests and other...
Read more in: Grab BagWe’ve been anticipating "Breaking and Entering," with Jude Law’s performance as a gardener (well, landscape architect, close enough for our purposes), and I can finally report that: It’s Jude Law. Isn’t that enough? Actually, it’s also Anthony Minghella (English Patient, Cold Mountain), Robin Wright Penn, an amazing Juliette Binoche...
Read more in: Grab BagA reader asked this question of Washington Post Green Scene writer Joel Lerner: We have two large dogs that have torn up the lawn in our back yard. It is fairly shady. Can you suggest something that can withstand these conditions? And here’s Lerner’s tough-love answer: Turf won’t thrive...
Read more in: Grab BagIf, like me, you have too much time on my hands, you’ve probably already found Jakob Nielsen, who’s written quite a bit about site and blog design and ways to write effectively for the Internet. Check out his Top 10 Blogging Mistakes and let’s discuss among ourselves, okay? Me,...
Read more in: Grab BagOf course, these whims never seem like whims at the time to all the elected and appointed officials and developers and construction-company bosses who make them reality. Ever-widening suburbs, roads, dams–in their given moment, they all seem crucial to the proper functioning of society, because what else would you...
Read more in: Grab BagGardenweb was my first introduction to the online gardening community. I happened upon it in early 2000, and immediately dove right into the rose, perennial, and bulb forums. Then I found that there were even more informative—and way more provocative—discussions going on in some of the other forums. Many...
Read more in: Grab BagHere, upstate, I see the fall-out of such monumental arrogance towards the landscape in the tragic city of Albany. Albany has a lot going for it, in theory. First of all, it is the state capital, so, unlike most upstate cities, it actually has a thriving industry–government–which employs many...
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Commented on The Animals and Garden Amenities of Plantsman David Culp { Fun post. Makes me want to get back to see the garden. My, oh my... I love David's book, too. It's got loads of stuff.... } – May 25, 9:16 PM
Commented on The Animals and Garden Amenities of Plantsman David Culp { There has to be a green house for all those potted plants. I have 8 and that is too many for this climate without a... } – May 25, 8:00 PM
Commented on Roses redux { I heartily agree that 'Darcy Bussell' and 'Lady Emma Hamilton' are well worth their space in the garden. I have also had excellent luck with... } – May 25, 7:24 PM
Commented on The Animals and Garden Amenities of Plantsman David Culp { Well, for me it depends on what kind of stuff. I love David's taste, though - in everything, as far as I noticed in his... } – May 25, 12:27 PM
Commented on The Animals and Garden Amenities of Plantsman David Culp { Exquisite. Love the book. Love your post. } – May 25, 11:39 AMWe are:
perfect
magazine
gardens.
Gardening
our
asses
off.
Having a
hell of a lot
of fun.
